Bilbo, Retired Burglar MTG Card


Bilbo ensures card advantage with extra draws, pivotal in outpacing opponents during the game. Faster plays with resource acceleration make it easier to lead the game progression. Instant-speed ability offers flexibility, keeping you ready for strategic responses.
Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeLegendary Creature — Halfling Rogue
Abilities Treasure
Power 1
Toughness 3

Text of card

When Bilbo, Retired Burglar enters or leaves the battlefield, the Ring tempts you. Whenever Bilbo deals combat damage to a player, create a Treasure token.


Cards like Bilbo, Retired Burglar

Bilbo, Retired Burglar brings unique mechanics to Magic: The Gathering’s realm of creature cards. It shares a kinship with other creatures that allow players to covertly interact with their opponent’s deck, much like “Robber of the Rich.” While Robber of the Rich temporarily exiles and lets you cast cards using mana of any color, Bilbo, Retired Burglar has a different approach, focusing on the top card of the opponent’s library and benefiting directly from playing lands from this position.

Another comparable card is “Gonti, Lord of Luxury,” which also permits the player to look at an opponent’s deck and exile a card from it. However, Bilbo’s versatility in potentially playing an additional land each turn carves itself a unique niche. Then “Thief of Sanity” deserves a mention for its similar disruption ability, though Bilbo, Retired Burglar allows for consistent land plays, which could be crucial for deck acceleration. What sets Bilbo apart is the synergy it can create with landfall abilities or multicolored deck strategies.

Considering the interactive playstyle and the potential for deck acceleration, Bilbo, Retired Burglar holds its own amongst MTG creatures that meddle with an opponent’s library, presenting players with its own brand of strategic depth and adaptability.

Robber of the Rich - MTG Card versions
Gonti, Lord of Luxury - MTG Card versions
Thief of Sanity - MTG Card versions
Robber of the Rich - MTG Card versions
Gonti, Lord of Luxury - MTG Card versions
Thief of Sanity - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Bilbo, Retired Burglar by color, type and mana cost

Frenetic Efreet - MTG Card versions
Whirlpool Warrior - MTG Card versions
Yusri, Fortune's Flame - MTG Card versions
Aegar, the Freezing Flame - MTG Card versions
Veyran, Voice of Duality - MTG Card versions
Jori En, Ruin Diver - MTG Card versions
Wee Dragonauts - MTG Card versions
Gelectrode - MTG Card versions
Frenetic Sliver - MTG Card versions
Noggle Hedge-Mage - MTG Card versions
Crackleburr - MTG Card versions
Noggle Ransacker - MTG Card versions
Izzet Staticaster - MTG Card versions
Jhoira of the Ghitu - MTG Card versions
Spellheart Chimera - MTG Card versions
Whirler Virtuoso - MTG Card versions
Ludevic, Necro-Alchemist - MTG Card versions
Nivix Cyclops - MTG Card versions
Enigma Drake - MTG Card versions
Protean Raider - MTG Card versions
Frenetic Efreet - MTG Card versions
Whirlpool Warrior - MTG Card versions
Yusri, Fortune's Flame - MTG Card versions
Aegar, the Freezing Flame - MTG Card versions
Veyran, Voice of Duality - MTG Card versions
Jori En, Ruin Diver - MTG Card versions
Wee Dragonauts - MTG Card versions
Gelectrode - MTG Card versions
Frenetic Sliver - MTG Card versions
Noggle Hedge-Mage - MTG Card versions
Crackleburr - MTG Card versions
Noggle Ransacker - MTG Card versions
Izzet Staticaster - MTG Card versions
Jhoira of the Ghitu - MTG Card versions
Spellheart Chimera - MTG Card versions
Whirler Virtuoso - MTG Card versions
Ludevic, Necro-Alchemist - MTG Card versions
Nivix Cyclops - MTG Card versions
Enigma Drake - MTG Card versions
Protean Raider - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Bilbo, Retired Burglar ensures a steady flow of options in your hand by facilitating additional draws. This advantage is crucial for outpacing your opponents by amassing more resources and responses.

Resource Acceleration: Not only does this card offer a glimpse into your library’s future adventures, but it also accelerates your resources. This enables faster and more impactful plays, keeping you one step ahead of your rivals.

Instant Speed: Bilbo, Retired Burglar’s ability to act at instant speed grants you the flexibility to adapt to the unfolding game. This reactive capability ensures that you are always ready to take advantage of the situation at just the right moment.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Bilbo, Retired Burglar introduces a deckbuilding puzzle, mandating that you discard a card to trigger its ability. This can strain your hand, particularly in tight games where every card counts.

Specific Mana Cost: The inclusion of green in its casting cost means this card naturally slides into green-centric decks, potentially excluding it from more diverse mana-based strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that’s a bit on the higher side, Bilbo may compete with other impactful four-mana spells in your deck, making it less appealing for those seeking maximum efficiency.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Bilbo, Retired Burglar offers flexibility in deck-building thanks to its ability to influence both the early and late game. It’s a card that can be slotted into various archetypes which appreciate strategic hand manipulation and deck thinning.

Combo Potential: This card’s unique skill set also enables intriguing combinations by opening up avenues for deck searching and selective card draw. This makes it an ideal piece in puzzle-like decks that thrive on assembling specific card interactions.

Meta-Relevance: Given that player interaction and card advantage are often keys to winning matches, Bilbo, Retired Burglar’s capacity to impact both areas makes it a relevant choice in many competitive environments. Its incorporation can strengthen your position against a wide array of opposing strategies.


How to beat

Bilbo, Retired Burglar, introduces an interesting puzzle to MTG players’ decks, offering both resourceful looting and a potential for creature control twist. Different from cards such as Fiend Hunter that exile creatures till they leave the battlefield, Bilbo’s method of returning a creature to its owner’s hand allows for recurring tactics if managed correctly. Strategic use of instant-speed removal when Bilbo’s ability is on the stack can permanently deal with a problematic creature, effectively circumventing the return clause.

Moreover, delve into counterplay such as Niblis of Frost to capitalize on abilities that trigger when you cast an instant or sorcery. This creates a web of control that complicates the opposition’s attempts to utilize Bilbo’s looting and control to full effect. Another approach involves utilizing flicker effects with cards like Essence Flux to reset Bilbo’s loyalty and use his abilities more than once per turn cycle, granting you further board control and card advantage.

Ultimately, overcoming the challenges posed by Bilbo, Retired Burglar, enhances player ingenuity—embracing synergy and timing to ensure that this wily character’s impact on the game is minimized while harnessing his strengths within your strategy.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Bilbo, Retired Burglar MTG card by a specific set like Tales of Middle-earth Promos and The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Bilbo, Retired Burglar and other MTG cards:

TCGPlayerBUY NOW
BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Printings

The Bilbo, Retired Burglar Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2023-06-23 and 2023-06-23. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12023-06-23Tales of Middle-earth PromosPLTR 4032015NormalBorderlessLivia Prima
22023-06-23The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earthLTR 6472015NormalBlackAnna Pavleeva
32023-06-23The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earthLTR 1962015NormalBlackAnna Pavleeva
42023-06-23The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earthLTR 4032015NormalBorderlessLivia Prima
52023-06-23Tales of Middle-earth Art SeriesALTR 142015Art seriesBorderless

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Bilbo, Retired Burglar has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
GladiatorLegal
AlchemyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Bilbo, Retired Burglar card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2023-06-16 As the Ring tempts you, you get an emblem named The Ring if you don't have one. Then your emblem gains its next ability and you choose a creature you control to become (or remain) your Ring-bearer.
2023-06-16 Each player can have only one emblem named The Ring and only one Ring-bearer at a time.
2023-06-16 Each time the Ring tempts you, you must choose a creature if you control one.
2023-06-16 If the creature you choose as your Ring-bearer was already your Ring-bearer, that still counts as choosing that creature as your Ring-bearer for the purpose of abilities that trigger "whenever you choose a creature as your Ring-bearer" or abilities that care about which creature was chosen as your Ring-bearer.
2023-06-16 Some spells and abilities that cause the Ring to tempt you may require targets. If each target chosen is an illegal target as that spell or ability tries to resolve, it won't resolve. The Ring won't tempt you.
2023-06-16 The Ring can tempt you even if you don't control a creature. In this case, abilities that trigger "whenever the Ring tempts you" will still trigger.
2023-06-16 The Ring gains its abilities in order from top to bottom. Once it gains an ability, it has that ability for the rest of the game.